Professional cricket utilizes two principle equipment – a willow bat, and a cork ball. The game at large is a contest between these two sporting goods. The batters are challenged by the bowlers who can swing and spin the ball at a range of pace which is also influenced by a pitch that is cracked, dusty, or grassy.
The range of bowling options available for a bowler can only be successfully deployed if they maintain the condition of the ball consistently. This is particularly true for pace bowlers who need to ensure that the ball swings. The ball’s ability to swing is maximum in the initial overs, when the ball is shiny and smooth. As the ball gets older and rough, the ability of the ball to swing decreases.
In the initial overs, to ensure that the ball’s swing remains consistent and predictable, the bowling side makes sure that one side of the ball remains shiny. The air passes through the shiny side quicker, and hence the ball swings in the direction of the rough side.
The maintenance of the shiny side is done by the bowler by rubbing the ball on the pants, or by wiping the shiny side with sweat. The rubbing of the ball on the trousers can be evidently appreciated in test cricket when the players’ trousers are stained red on the side of their thighs.
At the later stages of the innings, when both sides of the ball become rough, the conventional swing stops. The ball starts to reverse swing, meaning that the ball swings in the direction of the shinier part. However, this particular delivery needs to be bowled at 130 km/hr or more for maximum impact.
